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Bad Bosses

July 5th, 2017

There are many good bosses in workplaces today, people who truly care about their employees, and work to make sure their people are happy and performing at their best. But there are plenty of bad bosses as well.

Unfortunately, bosses who berate or belittle their employees are often seen in a positive light. They are considered to be tough, hard charging, aggressive, and tenacious. This is not good management, however, because this kind of abusive behavior hampers people’s performance rather than enhancing it.

There are some other common traits that bad bosses share, traits that you should be aware of so that you can avoid working under one or know when it’s time to start looking for a new job.

1. Not good at communicating
Good communication is the backbone of good management. A good manager is always talking with his team, letting them know what is expected of them, how they are doing, what the leadership is thinking. A good manager is open and above board, honest and trustworthy.

A bad manager, on the other hand, rarely communicates with his people, and when he does, it’s usually to pass along bad news.

2. No accountability
If something goes wrong, bad bosses are quick to shift the blame onto someone else. They take no accountability for their actions. They look out for only one person, themselves.

3. No morals
They have no moral compass. Doing what is right is not something that is a priority. They are looking to get ahead, and if they have to bend a few rules, step over a few people to do it, so be it. Many bad bosses are narcissists, people who exhibit arrogance, an inflated view of their own importance and capability, and little concern for other people.

4. Concerned only about themselves
They care only about their own career, not those of their team. Their workers exist only to make the boss look good. A good boss takes the exact opposite view. He or she is truly interested in his workers and their careers. He is working to help his workers advance and make the most of their career.

Any one of these traits can make life miserable for someone who works for a person like this. Unfortunately, where you find one, you usually find the other traits as well. If you find yourself working for a person like this, the best course of action is to get out as quickly as possible.